Sky News reported that Britain took a symbolic step closer to Brexit after MPs voted by 461 votes to 89 - a majority of 372 -f or a Brexit strategy to be revealed as well as the passing of an amendment to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2016.

Although the vote is not legally binding, it is the first time since the referendum that MPs have supported May's Brexit timetable, which would lead the UK to exiting the EU sometime around March 2019.

Labour's Demands

Tulip Siddiq, Labour politician, stated: "It's been six months since the referendum.

It's ludicrous that it's taken this long for the Prime Minister to acknowledge that Brexit is important enough that the British people need to know her government's plans."

Shadow Brexit minister Sir Keir Starmer outlined Labour's five fold demands for Brexit negotiations. Sir Keir stated in parliament:

  • "Firstly, [Labour demands] enough detail and clarity to end the circus of uncertainty."
  • "The second requirement is that it must have enough detail to allow relevant parliamentary bodies and committees to scrutinse the plan effectively."
  • "Thirdly, the plan must provide enough detail to enable the office for Budget Responsibility to do its job properly".
  • "Fourthly, the plan must have enough details to enable the relevant authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to be assured that their particular concerns are going addressed".
  • "Fifthly, the plan must have enough detail to build a genuine consensus across parliament."

When asked how Labour would respond if their conditions were not met, Sir Keir stated the government would face a "further challenge" from the opposition before refusing to expand upon his statement.

Ian Duncan Smith, Conservative leave supporter, told Sky News that the vote gives the PM a "blank cheque" for Brexit.

Out of the 89 MPs that voted against the amendment, there was 51 SNP MPs, 23 Labour MPs, 5 Liberal Democrat MPs, 3 SDLP MPs, 3 Plaid Cyrmu MPs, 2 Independent MPs, 1 Green MP and 1 Conservative MP-Ken Clarke.

The government's latest Brexit fumble comes in spite of previously stating that there was no plan to provide a Brexit "running commentary" at the risk of showing their negotiating hand.

Theresa May missed the vote as she was in the Middle East.
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